June 9,2025
The Curve of Time: A Boat, A Book, and the Call of Adventure
We arrived in Port McNeill on Wednesday, June 4, waiting for a favorable weather window to cross Cape Caution—the open-water stretch that must be navigated to reach central and northern British Columbia. According to the forecast, Saturday, June 14 might be our opportunity. For now, the wind is gusting over 20 mph, and waves are reaching 8 feet—conditions far from ideal. In the meantime, we’ve spent our days walking the docks, chatting with fellow boaters, and swapping stories about our vessels and past adventures.
During one of these strolls, a particular boat caught my attention—The Curve of Time. I’ve always had a fascination with old boats, drawn to the history they carry, and this one felt like it had a story worth uncovering. Before I had the chance to speak with the owner, the vessel departed, leaving me curious about its past. A quick online search revealed that its history was even richer than I expected.
Built in Holland in 1959, the steel-hulled vessel began its life as a North Sea fishing trawler before being repurposed as an activist ship under Greenpeace’s ownership. They named it Moby Dick, an homage to Melville’s classic novel, as it sailed on campaigns against whaling, crossing the Atlantic and eventually making its way to Canada’s Pacific Coast.
In 1997, the boat took on a new identity when it was renamed The Curve of Time, paying tribute to M. Wylie Blanchet’s timeless book about exploring this very coastline. With its Dutch-flag-colored funnel and storied past, the vessel embodied a sense of transformation—just like the books that inspired its names.
At the dock we are surrounded by the big boats.
